MELBOURNE, August 11, 2014 ( Times of India): Members of the Indian diaspora in Australia have opened their first museum comprising over 1,200 rare pieces including pictures, paintings, photographs, coins and stamps here on the Independence day. Partly funded by the Indian High Commission in Canberra, the museum is an initiative of Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria (FIAV).The museum has artworks as old as 1800s showcasing rich Indian History, Hindu culture and mythology along with several astonishing International arts.The entire collection showcased in the museum is a personal collection of an Indian doctor, living in Melbourne, Dinesh Parekh who has been collecting artefacts for the last 50 years.
Named as Museum India, the collection has several original paintings, high quality lithographs, chromolithographs, engravings from 1840s onwards, sculptures, coins from 500 bce onwards and stamp collection for the public. The museum was launched by Consul General of Melbourne Manika Jain in the presence of the state Minister of planning Matthew Guy, Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti and several other high profile leaders and Indian community members.
This project has been supported by Melbourne Consul general of India, specially through Indian High Commission and Pravasi Bharti community.